During Black History Month, Keyano College Huskies Athletics will be celebrating and recognizing the accomplishments of Black student-athletes and staff who have made an impact during their time at Keyano College. Today, the program is recognizing Men's Volleyball student-athlete Athus Silva.
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While those around the Syncrude Sport & Wellness Centre mostly recognize Men's Volleyball student-athlete Athus Silva by his beaming smile, his opponents around the Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference (ACAC) have come to identify him by their brief meetings at the net, usually ending with a thunderous block and a point in favour of the Huskies.
In his three playing seasons with the Keyano Huskies Men's Volleyball program, Silva has already established himself as one of the conference's best blockers and the best to date in the history of the Men's Volleyball Huskies.
In his rookie season, he led the entire conference with 76 blocks, averaging 1.03 blocks per set. A year off due to COVID-19 didn't hamper his skills as Silva posted 56 blocks, tying for the conference lead. Despite playing in four fewer games 17 fewer sets this year, Silva is almost set to surpass last year's total with 48 blocks to his name, again leading the entire ACAC with 1.02 blocks per set.
For the Campinas, Brazil product, that has him at 180 career blocks, placing him at 14th all-time still just midway through his post-secondary career.
In addition to his defensive skills, he's amassed 303 kills as well with plenty of opportunity left to boost those numbers in the Huskies' final home weekend this Friday and Saturday. It feels like a given then that his season-high total of 104 kills will be surpassed with him sitting at 100 entering the weekend.
His step forward during 2021-22 also caught the attention of the ACAC, who named him to the All-Conference team.
Silva's contributions haven't stopped there either as he's added 21 service aces, tied for the team lead with Radek Brzozowski, to mark a new season-high for him and give him 49 for his career.
A friendly sight off the court and a fierce competitor on it, Silva has the early performances and promise to rise further in the ACAC's record books and take the Huskies' success along for the ride.
Black History Month Spotlight:
February 1: Omeechi Williams, Men's Basketball
February 2: Tyshaine Page, Women's Basketball
February 3: Jonatas Michel, Men's Basketball
February 4: Felicia Rodney, Women's Soccer
February 5: Angel Goldson, Men's Soccer
February 6: Chawncy McClenan, Women's Basketball
February 7: Athus Silva, Men's Volleyball
